Origins & Early Life

Tadamichi Kuribayashi (栗林 忠道, Kuribayashi Tadamichi; 7 July 1891 – c. 26 March 1945) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, diplomat, and commanding officer of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He is best known for having been the commander of the Japanese garrison at the battle of Iwo Jima. Even before the battle, General Kuribayashi insisted upon sharing the hardships of his men.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He also refused to permit banzai charges, which he regarded as an unnecessary waste of his men's lives. The United States Marine Corps had expected to capture Iwo Jima in five days, but Kuribayashi and his men held out for 36 days. It is believed that Kuribayashi was killed in action while leading his soldiers in a night-attack on American troops, but his body was never identified by the United States military. U.S. Marine Corps General Holland Smith said of Kuribayashi that "Of all our adversaries in the Pacific, Kuribayashi was the most redoubtable." Kuribayashi was born in Matsushiro, Nagano, to an established samurai family dating to the Sengoku period.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Kuribayashi family began as land-owning nobles under the Sanada clan, then were members of the Matsushiro Domain during...

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